Top African venture capital firm Founders Factory Africa (FFA) has rebranded as 54 Collective to better support transformative technology ventures across the continent through catalytic capital and value-added support through its Venture Success Platform.
54 Collective builds on its great history of investing in and growing African businesses in their early stages. The company’s new name, 54 Collective, shows its big plan to help business owners grow their companies to serve all 54 African countries.
As a commercial-first investor, the firm embeds impact in everything it does. 54 Collective’s Venture Success Platform provides catalytic finance and value-add support to startups from idea to pre-Series A.
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“Our Venture Success Platform provides catalytic capital and value-added support to founders, confirming our evolution and mission to support entrepreneurs across Africa and enable them to build without boundaries to drive commercial and impact returns.
Our new moniker, 54 Collective, shows our dedication to African founders. CEO Bongani Sithole said 54 Collective is more supportive than ever of unlocking entrepreneurial opportunities and levelling the playing field for youth and women founders.
Unlocking Capital: The 54 Collective Advantage
54 Collective offers equity and non-dilutive capital up to $500k, enabling founders to scale their ventures across the continent. To break barriers of access, female founders receive an additional $150k to their male counterparts as non-dilutive capital.
The Venture Success Platform is a team of experienced venture specialists who provide tailored support for founders in product, growth, commercial relationships, business strategy, talent, technology, and data.
They ensure founders have access to the proper funding and facilitate networking and community-building opportunities. 54 Collective is the only Venture Capital firm in Africa offering early-stage founders the highest catalytic capital and support from the largest Africa-based team with over 70 staff members.
The firm has evolved from investing only in the Agtech, Fintech, and Healthtech sectors to being sector-agnostic, supporting more founders across the continent. 54 Collective helps founders navigate complex challenges to achieve commercial success and make an impact on the continent through economic growth and job creation.
In 2023, Founders Factory Africa was named one of Africa’s top venture capital investors. With an active portfolio of over 50 ventures across 10 countries, the firm has supported more than 70 ventures across Africa and helped its portfolio startups raise nearly $140 million in follow-on capital.
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Unlocking the Potential of Africa’s Venture Capital Market
Africa’s venture capital sector is expanding rapidly, with $6 billion invested annually. However, less than 1% of global venture funding is allocated to intelligent capital. 54 Collective aims to invest in 105 startups across Africa in the next five years, enabling entrepreneurs to solve Africa’s most significant challenges and transform lives and industries.
The firm is targeting a portfolio where 50% or more startups are founded by women, with 45% of its investments made between January 2023 and July 2024. 54 Collective’s investments also create social and economic impact, such as Asaak, a vehicle asset financing company, improving financial inclusion for over 11,000 bodaboda drivers, significantly improving their quality of life and income.
54 Collective, a powerful economic and social force in Africa, is redefining the venture capital ecosystem with its new name, catalytic capital, and value-add Venture Success Platform offering. The firm aims to create a future where African entrepreneurship drives generational progress and prosperity. Its sister funds continue their mission to redistribute investment and knowledge pathways towards a more inclusive, relevant, and equitable future for the Global South.
